Ribbon spool

ABSTRACT

A ribbon spool for a fabric ribbon, carbon ribbon, magnetic ribbon or the like molded from a synthetic material as a single unit including a ribbon attaching element. The ribbon attaching element is integral with the spool by a living hinge construction thereby providing the capability of repetitive movement from a nonribbon attaching position to a ribbon attaching position. The element in cooperation with the spool has a snap-fit construction in the ribbon attaching position to securely attach the ribbon to the spool.

United States Patent lnventors Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Wolfgang Fred Heine Gronton;

Kenneth D. Vought, Owego, N.Y. 792,394

Jan. 21,1969

May 1 1, 1971 SCM Corporation New York, N.Y.

RIBBON SPOOL 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Int. Cl Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,195,828 7/ 1965 Kuckhoff et al. 242/74.1. 3,304,021 2/ 1967 Quenot 242/ 74. 1

Primary Examiner-Nathan L. Mintz Attorney-Kenneth W. Greb ABSTRACT: A ribbon spool for a fabric ribbon, carbon rib bon, magnetic ribbon or the like molded from a synthetic material as a single unit including a ribbon attaching element.

The ribbon attaching element is integral with the spool by a living hinge construction thereby providing the capability of repetitive movement from a nonribbon attachingposition to a ribbon attaching position. The element in cooperation with the srbol has a snap-fit construction in the ribbon attaching position to securely attach the ribbon to the spool.

Patent ed May 11, 1971 INVENTOR vVLF. HE! NE KENNETH D. VOUGHT AGENT Patented, M 11, 1971 2 Shoots-Shut 2 5 INVENTOR.

W-F. HEINE KENNETH D. VOUGHT AGENT RIBBON SPOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Ribbon spools that are molded from a synthetic material as l a single unit gave certain advantages over the more common metal ribbon spools which are apparent when realizing the material cost, ease of manufacture, versatility, and production manpower of the two types of spools. One of the more functional disadvantages found in the metal spool is the mannerin which the ribbon is attached to the spool by the operator. A metal projection, usually an arrow head shaped projection, is provided on the spool hub over which the operator, must pierce the ribbon to attach the ribbon to the spool hub. This piercing operation requires the operator to physically hold the ribbon tightly in her fingers while pulling it across the pointed projection which inevitably leaves the operator with soiled fingers. This attaching operation is also bothersome and time consuming. A further disadvantage is the operator is left with soiled fingers when disconnecting the ribbon from this type of spool.

A U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,828, issued to C. J. Kuckhoff et al., discloses a one piece ribbon spool molded from a synthetic material that overcomes the disadvantages that are inherent in the conventional metal spool by providingan integral ribbon attaching element with a snap-fit construction to attach a ribbon to the spool. However, the snap-fit construction of the Kuckhoff et al. spool has a disadvantage in that the spool hub has an undesirable excessive recess on one end thereof to provide yieldable wall sections for the snap-fit construction and to provide an area for receiving the yieldable wall sections which are displaced therein by the ribbon attaching element when seating the element in the ribbon attaching position.

The excessive recess prevents having a series of circumferentially equally spaced cylindrical openings for receiving a spool driving pin for feeding-the ribbon. If the spool is positioned on the driving pin in the recess area, the driving pin can move a distance equal to at least two ribbon feedincrements without advancing the ribbon resulting in faulty printing in the case of the fabric or carbon ribbon and in faulty recording in the case of the magnetic ribbon. Another disadvantage of the excessive recess is the recess could permit ,the ribbon attaching element to be inadvertently positioned entirely within the recess which is beyond the normal ribbon attaching position. This would require undesirable special manipulating to reposition the element to the ribbon attaching position or to the nonattaching (ineffective) position. Havingthe recess on only one end of the spool hub creates another disadvantage of this snap-fit construction. The operator would notice that each side of the spool is different and therefore would inherently be confused as to which waythe-spool should be installed in the machine resulting in an unsatisfactory design.

A further disadvantage of the'Kuckhoff et al. spool is the spool having a pair of continuous flanges as compared to the recessed flanges of the present spool and the ribbon attaching element having a groove on each side edge thereof to receive mating beads on the yielding wall sectionsof the hub prevents the element from being moldedcoplanar with either flange and hence has been positioned between the flanges. To permit molding the element between the flanges and to permit convenient positioning of the ribbon adjacent the hub and in alignment with the element, the spool flanges are spaced from each other a distance excessive to the width of theribbon resulting in an undesirable oversized spool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION molded plastic ribbon spool having an integral ribbon attaching means that permits the operator to attach the ribbon in such a manner to avoid soiling the fingers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a one piece plastic molded ribbon spool having an integral ribbon attaching means that is convenient and easy to operate by using a pointed end of a pencil or like instrument when attaching or disconnecting the ribbon to or from the spool.

Still another object of this invention is I to provide a one piece molded plastic ribbon spool including an integrally A further object of this invention is to provide a one piece I molded plastic ribbon spool that reduces the manufacturing cost, this particular construction provides cost savings of apj proximately onehalf of the cost of a comparable metal spool.

molded ribbon attaching means that has a similar appearance on each side of the spool so the spool may be installed in the machine from either side without confusion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a one piece plastic molded ribbon spool having an integral snap-fit ribbon attaching construction that maintains the minimum sized spool.

Another object of this invention is to provide a one piece plastic molded ribbon spool with an integral ribbon attaching means wherein the entire structure is molded of a synthetic material, such as Polypropylene, possessing properties that permits repeated flexing of the integral ribbon attaching means without fracturing.

The above and other objects of this invention will'be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I .is a perspective view of the ribbon spool showing the ribbon attaching element in an ineffective position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ribbon spool showing a ribbon being attached thereto with the ribbon attaching element partially displaced from the ineffective position toward an effective position. v H

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial elevational view of FIG. 1 showing the ribbon attaching element in the effective position with the ribbon removed to avoid obscuring the detail constructIon.

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1 showing the position of the attaching element and the ribbon prior to attaching the ribbon to the spool.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the position of the Y attaching element and the ribbon when the ribbon is attached fective position.

1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In general, this ribbon spool comprises a pair of flanges, a central hub-integral with each flangeand a ribbon attaching partially cylindrical element mating groove in the hub. To attach the ribbon, the ribbon is placed across the groove and the element is pressed into the groove for pinching the ribbon therein. The element and groove are constructed to have a snap-fit relationship.

Referring to FIG. 1, the spool flanges l0 and 12 are integrally molded at the ends of the-spool hub 14 and are provided with recesses 16 and 18, respectively, wherein the operator has access to manipulate the ribbon attaching element 20. The hub 14 has a cylindrical opening 22 atth'c' center of the spool for receiving a machine spindle to providev an axis of rotation for the spool for receiving a machine'spindle to provide an axis of rotation for the spool.

The hub has a groove 24 extending parallel to theaxis .thereof and is located at a point in the hub-"14 in circumferential alignment with the element 20. The groover24 hasa the hub 14 are arranged annularly about the axis of the hub 14 for receiving a spool driving pin which extends from a machine ribbon spool spindle (not shown) for incrementally feeding the ribbon. Hub 14 thus constructed provides a versatile ribbon spool by being capable of being placed on the spindle with either end of the hub 14 down and by being capable of being placed on the conventional or left ribbon spool spindle. Element 20 is integrally molded from hub 14 by anarrowed portion 32 to provide a molded hinge (living hinge) for pivoting element 20 to and from the effective ribbon attaching position repeatedly without separating the element 20 from the hub 14. The diameter of the attaching element 20 is slightly larger than the entrance of the hub groove 24 and slightly smaller than the diameter of groove 2A thereby providing a snap-fit relationship therebetween.

As viewed in H0. 4, the element 16 is molded radially outwardly from one end of the hub 14 and partially within the flange recess 16 having a lower surface 34 of element 20 with flange in a manner not to interfere with the space between flanges 10 and 12. Since the element does not interfere with the space between flanges 10 and 12, the desirable minimum sized spool can be molded with an integral snap-fit ribbon attaching means.

Referring now to FIG. 2, one end 36 of the ribbon is shown with a ribbon reverse eyelet 38 attached thereto. The ribbon end 36 is attached to the spool hub 14 by positioning the spool in a manner such that the element 20 is pointing upward, by placing the ribbon free end 36 across the hub groove 24 and by pushing element 20 into groove 24 with the pointed end of a pencil or like instrument carrying the ribbon therewith. A U- shaped cavity 40 in the outer portion of the element 20, best seen on FIGS. 6 and 7, allows the sidewalls 42 and 44 of the element 20 to yield inwardly toward each other as the element 20 is forced into groove 24 reducing the circumferential size thereof. As the element 20 is forced into groove 24, the ribbon end 24 becomes wrapped around the inner circumference of the element 20 which becomes confined within the groove 24. Viewing FIG. 3, two bevels 46 and 48 are provided on the hub end adjacent the narrow portion 32 of element 20 to aid the initial ingression of the element 20 into groove 24.

Once the diameter of the element 20 has passed the entrance of the groove 24, the element sidewalls 42 and 44 return outwardly to their normal position which expands element 20 to the original circumferential size thereby retaining the element 20 in the groove 24 thus providing a snap-fit construction. The tendancy of the plastic material to restore to a relaxed condition causes element 20 to spring outward toward its normal radially extended position and when the element 20 is within groove 24, the outward springing condition pinches the ribbon end 24 between the element 20 and the groove shoulders 26 and 28. The combination of this pinching effect and the friction of the ribbon wrappedaround element 20 provides a rigidly secure ribbon attaching means.

With element 20 in the effective position as shown in FIG. 5, no open space remains on either end of the hub 14 thereby indicating to an operator that the spool may be installed in the machine from either side thereof. When the element 20 is in the effective position, the circumference of the hub 14 is substantially maintained to provide a continuous surface for the ribbon to wind there around.

To release the ribbon end 36 from the spool hub 14, the operator may place the pointed instrument in the space 50 between hub 14 and element 20 to contact the push the ele ment 20 away from the hub 14 to force the element 20 out of the'groove 24. The operator may alternatively use the loaded ribbon spool to pull the ribbon end 36 and element 20 in an outward radial direction thereby pulling element 20 out of groove 24.

We claim:

1. A spool for typewriter ribbons or the like molded from an electric material comprising:

a hub (14) having a substantially semicircular predetermined sized groove (24) extending inwardly from the penphery thereof and having a predetermined sized groove entrance;

a substantially circular flange (10,12) integrally extending from each end of said hub (14) and defining a space there between for freely receiving the end (36) of a ribbon, one of said flanges (10) having a recess (16) therein in circumferential alignment with said groove (24); and

a substantially circular-shaped element (20) integrally extending from said hub (14) by a flexible hinge section I (32) for movement from an ineffective position to an effective ribbon attaching position relative to said hub (14), said element (20) having a circumference greater than said predetermined sized entrance of said hub groove 24 and less than said predetermined sized groove (24), and said element (20) having a cavity (40) therein to allow said element (20) to reduce in circumference when carrying the ribbon through said predetermined sized entrance of said hub groove (24) and said element (20) being sufficiently elastic to restore to its original circumference when within said groove (24) thereby providing a snap-fit relationship between said element (20) said hub groove (24) for rigidly securing the ribbon to the spool.

2. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said element cavity (40) is a U-shaped opening extending substantially along the length thereof forming sidewalls (42,44) that yield toward each other to reduce the circumference of said element (20) when passing through said hub groove entrance.

3. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said element cavity (40) is a U-shaped opening extending inwardly from the periphery thereof for receiving an instrument for moving said element (20) from the ineffective position to the effective position.

4. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said element cavity (40) is a U-shaped opening extending inwardly from the periphery thereof in a direction transverse of the plane of said recessed flange (10) when said element (20) is substantially parallel to said recessed flange (10).

5. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said element (20) is molded in the ineffective position from one end of said hub (14) and extending substantially radially outwardly therefrom and partially coplanar with said recessed flanges (10) to maintain the space between said flanges (10,12).

6. A spool-as defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined sized groove entrance is formed by a pair of rigid shoulders (26,28), and said element cavity (40) is a U-shaped opening extending inwardly from the periphery thereof fonning walls (42,44) that yield toward each other by said rigid shoulders (26,28) when pressing said element (20) into said hub groove (24).

7. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said flange recess (16) extends inwardly from the periphery of said recessed flange (10), the other of said flanges (12) having a recess (18) extending inwardly from the periphery thereof in alignment with the first mentioned flange recess (16) and with said hub groove (24) to freely expose said hub groove (24) for radial access thereto, said element cavity (40) is a U-shaped opening extending inwardly from the periphery thereof for receiving an instrument for moving said element (20) from theineffective position to the effective ribbon attaching position by way of flange recesses (16,18).

UNITED S'IA'IES PA'IENT OFFICE I (JER'IIFICATE ()F CORRECTION Patent No. 3 5Z8 258 Dated ,7 May 11 I 1971 J\I0Jig2ng Fred Hei 1'19 and Kenneth i VOU h it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Lettets Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 4:

"electric" has been changed to elastic Signed and sealed this LLth day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOT'ISJHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM P071050 uscoMM-Dc B0376-PB9 Q U S GOVEHNMFNY PRINTING Oirlc: "190-308-335 

1. A spool for typewriter ribbons or the like molded from an electric material comprising: a hub (14) having a substantially semicircular predetermined sized groove (24) extending inwardly from the periphery thereof and having a predetermined sized groove entrance; a substantially circular flange (10,12) integrally extending from each end of said hub (14) and defining a space there between for freely receiving the end (36) of a ribbon, one of said flanges (10) having a recess (16) therein in circumferential alignment with said groove (24); and a substantially circular-shaped element (20) integrally extending from said hub (14) by a flexible hinge section (32) for movement from an ineffective position to an effective ribbon attaching position relative to said hub (14), said element (20) having a circumference greater than said predetermined sized entrance of said hub groove 24 and less than said predetermined sized groove (24), and said element (20) having a cavity (40) therein to allow said element (20) to reduce in circumference when carrying the ribbon through said predetermined sized entrance of said hub groove (24) and said element (20) being sufficiently elastic to restore to its original circumference when within said groove (24) thereby providing a snap-fit relationship between said element (20) said hub groove (24) for rigidly securing the ribbon to the spool.
 2. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said element cavity (40) is a U-shaped opening extending substantially along the length thereof forming sidewalls (42,44) that yield toward each other to reduce the circumference of said element (20) when passing through said hub groove entrance.
 3. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said element cavity (40) is a U-shaped opening extending inwardly from the periphery thereof for receiving an instrument for moving said element (20) from the ineffective position to the effective position.
 4. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said element cavity (40) is a U-shaped opening extending inwardly from the periphery thereof in a direction transverse of the plane of said recessed flange (10) when said element (20) is substantially parallel to said recessed flange (10).
 5. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said element (20) is molded in the ineffective position from one end of said hub (14) and extending substantially radially outwardly therefrom and partially coplanar with said recessed flanges (10) to maintain the space between said flanges (10,12).
 6. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined sized groove entrance is formed by a pair of rigid shoulders (26, 28), and said element cavity (40) is a U-shaped opening extending inwardly from the periphery thereof forming walls (42,44) that yield toward each other by said rigid shoulders (26,28) when pressing said element (20) into said hub groove (24).
 7. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said flange recess (16) extends inwardly from the periphery oF said recessed flange (10), the other of said flanges (12) having a recess (18) extending inwardly from the periphery thereof in alignment with the first mentioned flange recess (16) and with said hub groove (24) to freely expose said hub groove (24) for radial access thereto, said element cavity (40) is a U-shaped opening extending inwardly from the periphery thereof for receiving an instrument for moving said element (20) from the ineffective position to the effective ribbon attaching position by way of flange recesses (16,18). 